Disgraced Lawyer And Real Housewives Husband Tom Girardi Gets 7 Years for Fraud Scheme, Looks Unwell After Sentencing

Once hailed as a legal titan and the real-life inspiration behind the blockbuster film Erin Brockovich, Tom Girardi now finds himself at the center of a far less glamorous story — sentenced to seven years in prison for defrauding his clients of millions.

Disgraced Lawyer And Real Housewives Husband Tom Girardi Gets 7 Years for Fraud Scheme, Looks Unwell After Sentencing

On June 3, a federal judge in California handed down the sentence to the 86-year-old disbarred attorney, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the man once known as a “champion of justice.” The Department of Justice confirmed the conviction, which stems from Girardi’s embezzlement of approximately $15 million from vulnerable clients over the course of a decade.

Disgraced Lawyer And Real Housewives Husband Tom Girardi Gets 7 Years for Fraud Scheme, Looks Unwell After Sentencing 4

“This self-proclaimed ‘champion of justice’ was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office will vigorously prosecute corrupt lawyers and those who assist them in criminal activities.”

Tom Girardi, who rose to national prominence in the 1990s after his involvement in the Pacific Gas and Electric groundwater contamination case — the basis for Erin Brockovich — later became a pop culture figure through his appearances on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, alongside his now-estranged wife, Erika Jayne (Erika Girardi).

Tom Girardi with Erika Jayne

Federal prosecutors revealed that Girardi funneled over $25 million from his law firm to EJ Global, the company set up to fund Jayne’s entertainment career. That money went toward lavish expenses including private jets, luxury cars, high-end jewelry, and exclusive club memberships.

Erika Jayne, 53, filed for divorce in 2020 after allegations against Girardi surfaced. She has repeatedly claimed she was unaware of his criminal behavior. Though named in a lawsuit related to the Lion Air crash victims, she was dismissed from the case in 2022.

Throughout the trial, Girardi’s legal team argued he was suffering from Alzheimer’s and living in an assisted care facility. Nevertheless, he was declared competent to stand trial in early 2024 and must surrender to authorities by July 17.

Jayne, who was in London on the day of the sentencing for a performance at the iconic KOKO club, reflected on her recent struggles in an interview with Vogue UK. “We all go through things — you have to realize that you’re not the only one,” she said. “And you have to find the will to take baby steps until you feel more comfortable, and those baby steps might last for a long time.”

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15 comments

Starr June 5, 2025 - 5:39 pm
The piper has come a calling. He looks very feeble, it is sad, but justice was served. Erika was no innocent in all of this at all, lie as she might, so I hope she is locked up with him. Crime does not pay.
Steve June 5, 2025 - 4:56 pm
Now to claw back all of the stolen money from those it went to...inclusing Erika. Then send it to the victims.
Steve June 5, 2025 - 4:56 pm
Now to claw back all of the stolen money from those it went to...inclusing Erika. Then send it to the victims.
HermanL22 June 5, 2025 - 10:16 am
I must honestly say that putting this man in prison isn't going to fix anything. He's knocking on death's door, and quite frankly, if he is truly suffering from Alzheimer's, as they claim, what good is locking him up going to do? Give him the anklet and let him stay in a home for those types of patients. He stole money, and while I'm not saying this is okay or accepted by any means, it is far from the realm of creating physical danger.
LiberalMediaIsCorrupt June 5, 2025 - 9:36 am
For richer or poorer ...in sickness or in health must not have been in their wedding vows.
Zap It June 5, 2025 - 11:17 am
I think he told her to leave because the gig was up...but I may be wrong.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark June 4, 2025 - 1:58 pm
Again, if there was any evidence that the EJ Global monies rec'd was specific money stolen from G&K's (and more importantly that Kunty knew about it), they would have found it by now. They know that a lot of the stolen settlement money was used to cover the law firm's payroll and credit card bills. It was also a matter of "robbing Peter to pay Paul", meaning they were using stolen money to pay other clients whom they were ripped off. Then there's the firms chief accountant (Christopher Kamon), who was convicted for using countless millions for he and his floozie's lavish lifestyle.
Zap It June 5, 2025 - 11:25 am
She knew. They just can't prove it in a court of law which is why they continue to harass her just for the hell of it. She may not have been directly involved ( how could she, she didn't work at the firm) and she didn't know the details but I think she absolutely knew that there was something going on. She's a lot of things but she's not stupid. Girardi parked millions in EJ Global. And likely funded her legal defense ahead of the shit storm with money that they can't trace. Again, the Covid scene where she says she wakes up every morning with dread...dead give away. That was a slip.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark June 5, 2025 - 2:55 pm
Just based on my own experience growing up and even today, it's not unfathomable to think that a wife is completely clueless in her husband's business dealings, especially specific transactions etc; In fact, I would argue that it's actually commonplace. All they know is that the money's there as they whip out black cards on $50K bags and hop on Gulfstreams. Also, there is evidence that Tom was already doing dirty deeds when he met his 3rd wife. But again, we're both just speculating and are never going to know exactly what went down. For all I know, Kunty is a conniving soulless monster, but my gut tells me otherwise.
Zap It June 5, 2025 - 11:25 am
She knew. They just can't prove it in a court of law which is why they continue to harass her just for the hell of it. She may not have been directly involved ( how could she, she didn't work at the firm) and she didn't know the details but I think she absolutely knew that there was something going on. She's a lot of things but she's not stupid. Girardi parked millions in EJ Global. And likely funded her legal defense ahead of the shit storm with money that they can't trace. Again, the Covid scene where she says she wakes up every morning with dread...dead give away. That was a slip.
Zap It June 4, 2025 - 9:24 am
I have to admit he doesn't look good. What a lousy way to end a long life. I hope his clients are reimbursed. So tragic for them.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark June 4, 2025 - 8:21 pm
I knew the man had Dementia, if not the early stages of Alzheimer's when Kunty first joined the show. I thought he had that certain look that is common with the disease.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark June 4, 2025 - 8:21 pm
I knew the man had Dementia, if not the early stages of Alzheimer's when Kunty first joined the show. I thought he had that certain look that is common with the disease.
Zap It June 5, 2025 - 11:16 am
What look? Is it a somewhat vacant look?
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark June 5, 2025 - 2:39 pm
Yes, I call it a "far away" look, but I like "vacant" better. It's also the grey pasty complexion, and black lifeless eyes and slight stare, much like this ... https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTg5OGZmOWM5anB3NzY1MzV2cGhmbWJ2cWRnZmhicWVqanZiYWJyd3F1ZnhoaXh5dCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/ZDWoNbWYr5bmWneYPW/giphy-downsized-small.mp4
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